British Airways Olympics Ad

Originally Posted by TamSV

The aim of marketing is surely not to get people talking about how crap you are.

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by TamSV

It's not just an ad, it's a poorly thought out and executed ad that misses its target by a mile. It annoys me that a team of "experts" took a fee for it and probably still think it's great.

You mean like the Lisa Simpson performing a Lewd Act 2012 logo?



Or maybe the WTFness that are Mandeville and, erm the other one, oh yeah, thanks gGoogle - Wenlock (how I can forget that one when its the name of one of my favourite boozers in London...)

[Bri w]

Originally Posted by TamSV

We are talking about it but only because it's a gaffe.

And by talking about it, what we've discovered is some people find it mildly annoying and most people don't care. That's not a benchmark for success is it? The aim of marketing is surely not to get people talking about how crap you are.

It didn't occur to me that they were annoying/rubbish/a gaffe but it does create the hook that all advertisers aim for, i.e. there is attention brought to the brand long after the ad has finished.

Some will hate it, some will already hate the brand and nothing will shift their perception, and some will be hooked in to the brand even if they don't remember the ad this time next week.

[TamSV]

I do take your point Bri, and we know sh**e sells.

Knowing this, and being intentionally sh**e, can be quite clever. But marketing that is unwittingly sh**e isn't clever, it's just sh**e.

[Littlepeahead]

Originally Posted by The Idle Biker

Just reinforces the fact that PR media types are all ******s, and I'm not generalising!

Which just shows how little you know about their role. In an ad agency the Creative Directors come up with the concept, often including the music. Then once they have the concept they will research it with focus groups (Planner) and then sell the idea to the client (Account Director/Account Manager) and then if it gets sign off and budget approved (Financial Director) it goes into production (Producer/Director) with the scripts written (Copyrighter) and then if there is print work to go with it that gets designed (Graphic Designer) and processed (Print Producer). The client signs off the final work (Account Project Manager) and the appropriate media spots are booked (Media Planner).

So the ad runs, there are complaints from the public and the ASA gets involved. The PR Media type only then has a role which is to put out a press release relating to the complaint, depending on whether or not it is upheld will decide what angle they take on this.

The rest of them are ******s as well then.

[Viney]

Im trying to work out why on earth they are going southbound on Westminste rbridge to get to Stratford, when the Embankment is a quicker route up to the A13/limehouse, then onto the A102, then into Stratford Olympic Park. I thought that BA where sorting out thier carbon Footprint! Jeeez. Or land at stratford, then a quick blast down the M11 to the A12, then to Stratford.

Originally Posted by Viney

Im trying to work out why on earth they are going southbound on Westminste rbridge to get to Stratford, when the Embankment is a quicker route up to the A13/limehouse, then onto the A102, then into Stratford Olympic Park. I thought that BA where sorting out thier carbon Footprint! Jeeez. Or land at stratford, then a quick blast down the M11 to the A12, then to Stratford.

Every pilot obviously needs to be issued with an A to Z pronto!

Ignoring the crassness of the music choice (I know that was the original point but anyway), I actually thought the theme was quite clever - "we're so patriotic that we're asking you not to fly with us. Watch the Olympics instead." It worked - we're not flying BA 3 days before the Olympics starts.
.
.

We're flying Virgin!!

[punyXpress]

Well, just tried this __> http://taxi.ba.com/
And the front door needs re-varnishing!
Barstewards!

[punyXpress]

BluePete & the Luftwaffe are after you!